I recently visited a Sunday school class in which the teacher brought up Romans 7:14-25. In this passage, the Apostle Paul describes a time in his life when he struggled with sin. The teacher rightly noted that this passage has sparked considerable theological debate. Paul states that he wants to do what is right, but repeatedly does the opposite. The question that arises from this description is whether Paul is describing his life before or after conversion. 

The Sunday school teacher argued that this passage describes Paul’s pre-conversion condition. Many theologians hold this view. One writes: 

“I’ll defend why I believe Paul is discussing his pre-Christian experience. It’s also important to see that Paul describes his pre-Christian life retrospectively. In other words, as Paul looks back as a Christian on his life before Christ, he recognizes he wasn’t a believer.” (Thomas R. Schreiner, The Gospel Coalition, p. 183.) 

Schreiner argues that Paul’s account in Romans 7—in which he describes repeated failures, bondage to sin, and an inability to obey—is incompatible with the regenerate life. A Christian will experience freedom and victory over sin. Those who accept this view say that a true believer cannot be enslaved to sin, the condition Paul describes in Romans 7. This position follows from the Calvinist doctrine of the perseverance of the saints, which holds that a “truly” born-again person will persevere in good works. In this framework, the “genuine” believer will ultimately overcome sin. 

A few weeks after attending the Sunday school class, I was listening to a Calvinist preacher who was participating in a Q&A session. The preacher was asked a question about doubts regarding salvation. This is a standard line of questioning in Calvinist circles. It highlights the profound lack of assurance that this theological system offers its followers. 

The exchange that followed demonstrated that lack of assurance. A young woman asked the pastor how she could know she was saved. She described ongoing struggles with sin. She felt as though she was always failing the Lord and, though she believed in Him, she didn’t know whether she was saved because of her struggles. Though she wanted to do what was right, she continually fell short. She was convicted of her sin and grieved it, but could not overcome it. 

One could hear Paul’s words in Romans 7 in her question. 

The pastor responded by saying that the very fact she was troubled by her sin and doubting her salvation proved that she was, in fact, eternally saved. Unfortunately, the pastor could not be sued for theological malpractice. 

His answer was rooted in the Calvinist doctrine of total depravity, which teaches that unbelievers are totally incapable of feeling genuine grief over sin because they are “spiritually dead.” The Calvinist concludes that unbelievers cannot experience sorrow or conviction over sin in any meaningful way. Therefore, if someone is grieved by their sin, this must be evidence of salvation. For many, this appears to be an efficient response to doubts. However, when placed alongside the pre-conversion interpretation of Romans 7, this logic collapses. 

The Calvinist is left in a conundrum: 

• If Paul is describing his life as a believer in Romans 7, then a believer can be enslaved to sin, undermining the perseverance of the saints. 

Or 

• If Paul is describing his life before conversion, then total depravity is false, because an unregenerate Paul is clearly convicted of sin, desires to do what is right, and wants to obey God. 

Which point of Calvinism is wrong—total depravity or perseverance of the saints? 

Which is it? Do our struggles with sin prove we are unregenerate—or are they evidence of our salvation? Calvinism offers no solution. 

The doctrine of grace provides the solution. Paul is describing his experience as a new believer. He attempted to live the Christian life in his own power by focusing on the Law. As a believer, he learned that his flesh could not produce righteous living. A believer can live by the flesh and fail. He can fail miserably. Romans 7 is not a passage anyone should consult to determine whether they are “truly” saved.